London, Ontario: Downtown

[@mitch11334]

I've always been fascinated by our buildings but had no history of it. I intend to watch all of your London videos. Thank you .

[@psefti]

At 14:40 the old market building, I remember loving to go there as a child with my great Aunt and my grandmother, the butcher Kleebers (not sure of spelling) sold dried venison it was an amazing treat chewy delicious, Few years ago I visited Boston their downtown market is almost a replicate of our old market, it was a nostalgia trip for me back to my childhood, Smart of Boston to have not destroyed a cherished landmark that every visitor enjoys.

[@rrp2600]

I have spent many hours working and bar hopping in the very grid of downtown space just described here. I was familiar with the age of some of these buildings but had no idea of historic value of what surrounded me at the time.

[@JessyU13]

Awesome video!

[@flyingdutchwoman]

thank you...

[@chantalurquidi4224]

I have been looking soooooooooooooo long for a video like this. Thanks!!

[@ramblesintherustbelt]

+Chantal Urquidi Not a problem. This was a lot of fun to put together.

[@barrj2007]

Thank you! London is my hometown, growing up around Richmond and Oxford in the 70s, until leaving in the early 80s. All good memories.

[@justtense9598]

This is so cool

[@Martin-ol4uq]

Very enjoyable. Thank you.

[@BillKing8888]

Thanks, this is great!

[@dlhoffman7616]

I have been hearing a theory of a Mud Flood around the 1850's. Having lived here for over 30 years, now is the time to review history and see how our city has changed.

[@martindouglas7014]

Great history lesson. Very well done. It's interesting to Google map the structures. A lot of them are still here. Thank you for covering many areas of London.

[@marcioroberto2006]

Hello Mr. Vazquez. I'm particular interested on the portion where you talked about Dom Pedro II, the emperor of Brazil. Minute 21. You said Dom Pedro II stayed at Tecumseh House Hotel in 1879. Would you please let me know where from the above source you got this information? Thank you! Marcio (Dom Pedro II fan)

[@OntCanGuy]

At the time it was the largest hotel in British North America, so I am not completely surprised.

[@BillKing8888]

I'm working on a study of the stone buildings of Hamilton - so this is great background. We have a number of excellent William Thomas buildings here - I would think the best collection in Ontario.

[@ramblesintherustbelt]

Nice. I'm actually going to be in Hamilton next week to do some research for a series of Hamilton videos. All the August and September videos are going to be from there. If you'd like to grab a coffee and chat about the city's history while I'm there I'd be happy to do so.

[@BillKing8888]

Sorry, I just noticed this today (August 2nd). My email is wm.king4 at gmail dot com, if you're going to be in Hamilton again. If I can help with any background info. I'd be glad to do so.

[@amy-joe5772]

I worked in London on Dundas Street with the carnival rides

[@sayusayme7729]

Grew up in Toronto, always felt London was cold and snobbish. Been here for too long. It’s definitely growing on me, 40 years later. Great post. Love architecture and history. Thank you.

[@VideoDroidORG]

thx benny & mellissa!

[@ramblesintherustbelt]

+Largemouth Bass (esp) You're very welcome.

[@kenclements3001]

The new courthouse is a perfect example of Soviet style building design that reminds people that once they enter they have no hope.

[@darcy1038]

Beside the cathedral currently there is a massive hole. They are putting in a new scyscraper and it's going to be interesting seeing that directly beside the cathedral

[@ramblesintherustbelt]

+Darcy Kanalajiit Are you talking about the apartment building going up at Talbot & Dufferin next to the old Talbot Street Baptist church? It's going to be a fine building, although I'm still annoyed they couldn't find a way to incorporate parts of the Victorian house on the corner. I'm not aware of any development immediately adjacent to either the Anglican or Roman Catholic cathedrals, though.

[@darcy1038]

+Rambles in the Rust Belt yes my mistake that is the one I was thinking of

[@darcy1038]

+Rambles in the Rust Belt I agree there could have been a way of incorporating the building similar to the Harriston

[@OntCanGuy]

@@ramblesintherustbelt Well, there is now a massive apartment building being built on Richmond Street, directly across from St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica. They will have a blessed view!

[@frozenwolfca]

Sad.... the city sold the old Courthouse and Gaol to JD Developments for condos or some other development. It won't be there much longer.

[@ramblesintherustbelt]

Not the city - the county. And the building is heritage designated. It's deeply unlikely that it'll be torn down. More likely they're planning to wrap a tower around the building. I haven't heard anything yet, though.

[@psefti]

So to sum this up London continues to destroy amazing buildings that would have been so valuable to the tourist industry and cherished by Londoners

[@79tazman]

I don't need to walk I got Google Earth :)

[@jorgestalter7307]

But .....london isnt in the Rust Belt. #epicfail

[@ramblesintherustbelt]

+Jorge Stalter I disagree. The term "Rust Belt" has extremely poorly defined borders, I'll grant you, and the core of the territory is the Detroit-Cincinnati-Pittsburgh area, all of which we plan to feature in future videos. But this project arose out of research into London's industrial history. Southwestern Ontario has a great deal in common historically, architecturally, and socially with the American Midwest.